Electric heater for subsurface materials



Oct, l, 1949. c. s. ACKLEY ELECTRIC HEATER FOR SUBSURFACE MATERIALS 2sheets-snaai 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1944 2 all.

.Nullllilalllalllla .fil l w L #Y TK E ma @QN nh V. KQ m5 .O a 5 EM l C0 A f .f H2 fo 1 EVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YM n @Y Kwfc M Am 5g S E n@ AH H CV. B

C. S. ACKLEY ELECTRIC HEATER FOR SUBSURFACE MATERIALS nrw!!llJlillllllwwlll 1,

oct. 11, 1949.

Filed Aug. 19, 1944 Patented Oct. 11, 1949 ELECTRIC HEATER FORSUBSURFACE.

' MATERIALS Charles S. icldey, New York, N. Y., assignor to ThermactorCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware l ApplicationAugust 19, 1944, Serial No. 550,210

2 Claims. 1 The invention relates to heat treatingrof subsurfacematerials.

Pursuant to the invention, sub-surface materials are raised intemperatures in elevation of that of the earth by the employment of`ref" motely controlled electrical heating means. In general, theimproved sub-surface electricalheating means comprises outer tubularmeans, inner tubular means of high thermal conductivity, elecfor thepurposes of initiating tapping of deposits of crude oil, gas formations,and the like.

The invention is applicable :in connection or in association withinventions set forth and claimed in my U. S. Patents No. 2,232,898,dated February 25, 1941, entitled Method of solidifying porous earthmaterials, and No. 2,235,695, dated March 18, 194,1, entitled Method ofrendering earth materials solid, pursuant to which sulphur or othertrical heating. means insulatingly surrounding l0 suitable material issupplied to any desired subsuch second-named, i. e., innertubular means,surface zone of the earth to form with the submeans mechanically'spacially interconnecting surface materials a solidied composite. Thesuch outer and inner tubular means to thereby procedure of the statedpatents involves usually enclose such electrical heating means withinthe the preliminary removal of water or moisture as annular spacebetween the outer and inner tubuy:l5 well as the raising of thetemperature of such lar means and providing a discharge opening forsub-surface materials. Such preliminary rethe inner tubular means, andmeans for intromoval of water or moisture may be accomplished ducingair, water or other suitable material withby my present invention by theemployment of in the inner tubular means whereby such mateair or likem-edium preheated by my electrical rial is heated and renderedfluid forheat-treat- 20 heating means. ing the sub-surface material. The presentinvention is also applicable for ele- Such mechanical interconnectingmeans prefvating the temperature of sub-surface materials erablyincludes a foot member serving to sealby thermal radiation and/or bythermal conducingly connect, as by screw threading, the inner tiondirectly with the sub-surface materials, and outer tubular means, andproviding a disand/or additionally by the flowof air or other chargeopening for the inner tubular means. y suitable uid supplied underpressure through the Such sub-surface heating means is suitablyarinterior of such inner tubular means, whereby ranged for insertionWithin a suitable opening such heated fluid is delivered through thedisinto the earth extending tothe Zone of the sub# charge opening of theinner tubular means. surface material to be treated, and preferably 30Pursuant to my inventionset forth in my stated includes provision forforcibly driving the same U. S. Patent No. 2,232,898, sub-surfacewateror into the earth. Suitablel provision is made for moisture may beremoved by suction through well sealing the electrical leads of suchelectrical heatf points disposed within and/or about the zone of ingmeans for connection With a suitable source the treated loose or othersuitably sub-surface of electrical energy disposed at or adjacent the 35material and sulfur in molten condition introearths surface, andarrangedfor affording produced within such zone for solidifying suchuntection of the electrical parts during the stage of stable sub-surfacematerial. The invention of insertion ofthe sub-surface heating meansintothe stated patent includes Ialso the step of inthe earth. troducingsteam, hot water or other heating mef My invention is applicablegen-erally for heat dium for effecting pre-heating of the unstabletreating sub-surface materials by conveyance of sub-surface materials.heat energy through the instrumentality of the Pursuant t0 my Stated U.S Patent NO- 2,235,- air, water or other suitable material heated and695, stabilization of loose sub-surface material rendered iiuid by theelectricalrr heating means, K i is attained by the emDlOyment 0f Th1mt"OI pressure being applied to Such mai-,Grim whereby 45 otherelectrically detonatable composition .for the sub-surface material isdually heat'treated heating the Zone 0f sltlch Sub-surface material, andsubjected to pressure conveyed through the concomitantly convertme Wateror other moisheated pressure applied rrlai-,eri v r ture within suchzone into steam, and withdraw- The invention is applicable for freeingoil wells y ing such generated Steam by 'suction through which areclogged by solidified paraffin 0r other "50 suitably located wellpoints, and introducing molsolidified constituents of crude oil, cloggedgas Wells, and the like, Applications of the invention reside also inthe fields of heat treatment of subsurface materials Whereit isadvantageous to introduce material into the geological structure tensulfur into such zone, whereby to solidify the treated sub-surfacematerial. My present invention is applicable in connection with Thermitby the employment of air or other suitable medium supplied underpressure through the inner tubu- 3 lar means and preheated by myelectrical heating means for removing water or moisture and preheatingthe sub-surface material preliminarily to igniting the Thermit charge.

Further features and lobjects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. l is a diagrammatic view partly in centralvertical section and partly in vertical elevation of a preferredembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom end view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view of another embodiment of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central sectional elevation of the lower part ofthe embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Referringr to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 4, the heatingmeans comprises an outer tubular means I shown formed of a series ofseriatim connected individual tubes II suitably interconnected, as bysleeves I2 having screw threading, preferably of right-left opposingrelation, mating with threading at the juxtaposed end portions of thetubes. Inner tubular means I3 is shown formed likewise of individualtubes I4 and similarly connected in seriatim by sleeves I5.

These inner and outer tubular means are associated substantiallycoaxially in annular relationship by the `provision of a foot member I5,suitably connecting the lower ends of the stated tubular means, as byscrew-threaded connections indicated respectively at I1 and I8. The footmember I6 is provided with a through opening, indicated at I3a, t0provide for the discharge of suitable fluid from the inner tubular meansi3, for purposes set forth more fully hereinafter.

T0 afford the discharge of the heated fluid delivered through the innertubular means, the threading thereof indicated at l'l of the foot memberI6, is disposed at the wall of its through opening. To afford threadedconnection as at I8, with the outer tubular means, the foot member I6may be configurated of general frustoconical formation, and as shown,the threaded connection of the foot member I effected extericrly of theouter tubular means I9. Obvicusly the invention is not limited to theuse of thread connections for making a substantially fluid-tight sealbetween the foot member I5 and the tubular members, as other known orconvenient sealing means may be employed.

The electrical heating means, per se, is `desirably of a helically woundwire I9 of suitable electrical heating characteristics, and preferablyself-insulated. Separate leads 2G and 2| are connected to the oppositeends of the helically wound wire I9 of the heating unit and lead to asuitable source of electricity. In this connection it is pointed outthat good practice today requires that the tubes employed in oil wellsshall not be used as electrical conductors because of the great dangerof flash ignition of the oil or gas. As indicated in the drawings, theleads 29, 2l, of the electrical heating wiring passes through suitableopenings 22, 23, of a suitable top closure member 24, serving tosealingly close the annular space between the upper ends of the outertubular means Il] .and the inner tubular means I3. Desirably such topclosure member 24 is formed of metal, and the leads 20, 2|, accordingly,may be provided with additional insulation, such as the indicated seriesof beads of vitreous material strung on the wiring. It will be observedthat 5 the electrical heating means comprises a closed heating circuitindependent of the tubular members I and I3.

Also, desirably, the outer wall of the inner tubular means may beprovided with a helically arranged half-round molding 25, welded to suchwall, serving as a guide for installing the electrical wiring helicallyabout the outer wall oi the inner tubular means, and functioning also tosupport the electrical wiring and maintain the desired heatingdistribution.

It is advantageous to provide a nut-like member 26A for clamping the topclosure member 24, which may be secured, as indicated, by threadingmating with the threading 21 of the inlet pipingr 28.

The level of the earth is indicated in Fig'. l at 29. Any suitablesource of electrical energy, not shown, may be employed for the supplyof the electrical current to the electrical heating wiring I9, to attainthe desired maximum temperature, and suitable control devices employedfor regulating the temperature of the distributed heat energy.

The opening in the ground is indicated at 30. Preferably, such groundopening 39 is formed preliminary to inserting the sub-surface heatingmeans therein.

Any suitable source (not shown) of compressed air or other pressure.fluid, may be employed. Economically and efficiently, air serves asahighly satisfactory fluid, which is supplied under pressure throughtheinlet piping 2,8, the direction of ow therethrough` being indicatedby the arrows 3l, whereby upon passage of such pressure supplied airthrough the interior of the inner tubular means I2, heatedl by theelectrical wiring I9, the resulting heated air currents dischargedthrough the opening 18a of the foot member I6, indicated 45 by. thearrows 32, now distributiveiy through me interstices of the sub-surfacematerials.

Accordingly, when it is desired to pre-heat any particular zone ofsub-surface materials, heating is afforded ,by control from the earthssurface 50 with respect to the range of elevation of temperature andselectively either by thermal radiation accompanied by thermalconduction directly within the zone of. sub-surface materials, and/ oradditionally by the supply of heated air, which latter distributesthrough the interstices of the sub-surface material.

As indicatedfinfFig. 2,l the insulated conductors 20, 2I may be sealedagainst passage of air, water 50 or moisture or the like, within theirrespective openings` 22, 23, by suitablesealing material indicatedat 2Ia and22a.

The embodiment shown inFigs. 5 and 6 follows generally that illustratedinV Figs. l through 4. 65 The embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 isespeciallyapplicable forV insertion Within a casing previously positioned in anopening in the earth. Pursuant to the preferred embodiment vshown inFigs. 5 and 6, .the housing 38 is dimensioned inlength of but 70 a minorfraction of the depth of the casing 35, to thereby localize theheatdistributed within the zone 31, such as. the desired zone of the treatedsubfsurface material. Such housing may be secured tothe lower end of theiiuid supply piping 75 39; inwhich instancethecable dcontaining theleads of the electrical Wiring may extend within the casing 35, i. e.,exteriorly of the supply pipin 39.

. ls shown in Fig. 6, the electrical wiring 4l may be wound helicallyabout the exterior of the inner tubular meansv 42, connected to andcommunicating with the supply piping 39, as by a screw threadedconnection indicated at 43 with vthe head part 44 of the housing 38. Itis again noted that the connections which seal the housing 38 to rthevassociated tube are not necessarily threaded connections. Other wellknown types of sealing .connection obviously maybe employed. The headpart 44 is shown provided Vwith an opening 45 vthrough `which extendsthe electric cable 40, which opening may be sealingly closed by means ofa plug 46.

The discharge end of the inner tubular means 42 is shown connectedwithin the bottom opening 41 of the housing 38, the housing 38, in thisinstance performing the function of the outer tubular means Ill of theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 4. To facilitate installation of thecomponent parts within the housing 38, it is advantageous to design thehousing of two parts, as by arranging its head part 44 separable at thesealing joint 54a, as indicated in Fig. 6, tightened by the set-screws5|.

Suitable means are provided for selectively locating the electricalheating means within the casing 36, as by means of a bail or yoke 48,having an eye 49, for suspending connection with a hook 50, of asuitable block and tackle, or equivalent.

The mode of operation of my improved heating means will be largelyunderstood from the foregoing in connection with the teachings of saidgranted Letters Patent.

As one manner of operation of the instant invention coupled with theteachings of my said U. S. Patent No. 2,235,695, sub-surfaoe materialmay be preheated in advance of the introduction of molten sulfur orequivalent fluid by energizing the electrical resistance from a suitablesource of electrical energy, under suitable control of current,accompanied as and when desired by the introduction through the innerhollow tube or equivalent member of air or the like, whereby water andother moisture present in the treated zone of sub-surface material isheated and dissipated and the temperature of the sub-surface materialitself elevated, to thereby condition the same for treatment with themolten sulfur or equivalent, which is later applied through the innerhollow member.

It will thus be observed that my heating means serves not only topreheat the sub-surface materials within the zone desired to be treatedbut also maintains the desired fluidity of the sulfur or equivalent tothe location of discharge of the treating material from the lower endopening of the inner hollow member. Control of the temperature of thetreating material to render and maintain the same at optimum stage offluidity is particularly advantageous with sulfur which possesses thepeculiar property of being rendered iluid between limiting ranges oftemperature.

It will be further observed that the suspension of my heating means bymeans of a block and tackle, or equivalent, enables my heating means tobe positioned within the hole in the earth or within a casing in suchhole to control the heating of the sub-surface material at the variousstages Iof treatment, including the stages of preheating with or withoutassociation of heated air or like fluid and the stagewof fapplicationfof 'sul-L fur or equivalent stabilizing material.

Thermoplastics other than sulfur, suchy as furnace tars, low grade tars,etc., usually of low cost, may be employed as the stabilizing treatingmaterial. In the Vuse of such treating material of low oxidizing orcombustion characteristics, heated air or the like may be dischargedthrough my heating means succeeding the stage of introduction of suchstabilizing treating material and/or intermediate stages of introductionof such stabilizing treating material, to thereby effect substantiallyuniform distribution of the stabilizing treating material and furtherdissipation of steam engendered during the stage or stages of theintroduction of the heated stabilizing treat-A ing material.

My present invention is also applicable for the treatment of oil wells,gas wells and the like. A particular eld of application resides in thatof freeing oil wells which are clogged by solidied constituents of crudeoil, mostly paran compounds; in such application the selected fluidsupplied under pressure through the inner tubular means is heated by myelectrical heating means to appropriate temperature to render suchclogging materials iluid, and also disperse the thus fluid renderedconstituents through the surrounding zones of the treated sub-surfacematerial. Such pressure supplied fluid may be steam, in which instancemy heating means maintains the preferred temperature of such treatingsteam or may superheat such steam and thereby minimize the quantity ofany condensed water and moisture.

Whereas the invention has been described by reference to specific formsthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made provided they do not depart from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Means for treating sub-surface materials comprising, in combinationas a closed unit, an outer imperforate tubular member; an innerimperforate tubular member disposed substantially coaxialiy within saidouter tubular member; electrical heating means disposed between saidouter and inner members and insulated lead Wires extending to andseparately connected to the opposite ends of said heating means, aunitary frustro-conical foot member having a through opening receivingthe lower ends of said tubes, said inner member at its lower end havinga threaded connection with the lower end of the foot member, and saidouter tube having on its outer side and at its lower end a threadedconnection with the large upper end of the foot member to substantiallyseal the space between the outer and inner tubes against fluid entry andafford communication between said inner tubular member and the throughopening of said foot member.

2. Means for treating sub-surface materials, comprising, in combinationas a closed unit, an outer imperforate tubular member; an innerimperforate tubular member disposed substantially coaxially within saidouter tubular member; electrical heating means disposed between saidouter and inner member and comprising electrical wiring supported in ahelically arranged spacing groove formed on the outer surface of theinner tubular member and insulated lead wires extending to andseparately connected to the opposite ends of said heating means, aunitary frustro-conical foot member having a through opening receivingthe lower ends of said tubes, said inner member at its lower end havinga threaded connection with the lower end oi the foot member, and saidouter tube having on its outer side and at its lower end a threadedconnection with the inner surface of the large upper end of the footmember to substantially seal the space between the outer and inner tubesagainst fluid entry and afford communication between said inner tubularmember and the through opening of said foot member.

CHARLES S. ACKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Garrison May 6, 1941

